HSDK Battle 551 Released

Cool chapter. Nice to see Hongo indeed has a stricter moral code than other members of shadow nine fist. Also good to see Shinpaku Alliance again.

Wasn't expecting to see Shigure back in that situation again. x.x

Awesome to see Hongo going against the Executioner Blade. Makes me wonder if he'll eventually join the Katsujinken.

Hongou was already more of a morally-grey character than a straight-up villain, so seeing him eventually defect from Yami wouldn't come as a big surprise.

Wasn't expecting to see Shigure back in that situation again. x.x

 

Awesome to see Hongo going against the Executioner Blade. Makes me wonder if he'll eventually join the Katsujinken.

I don't know Saiga, I don't think you can change paths in that universe. Akisame and Ogata are carving Buddhas but they still stayed on there respective martial paths. Once a Killing Fist always a killing fist

I thought it was hilarious when that sword Shigure made went limp. Poor ol' Touchumaru is in a cage, though.

ahh man i just finished this.

too funny, and that tiny sword XD

I thought this took place in 2001-2002?

Could've sworn the only big social networking sites were MySpace, but wasn't that in 2004?

I would imagine about 3 years have passed since the start of the manga. Perhaps this is the years when FB hasn't become THAT popular yet (around 2006-2007) and so Kidou's being on FB is a rather unusual thing for the government to catch on (the government is really slow at catching up to the technological pulse of society, I guess).

But I do suspect a chronological plothole too

Shigure threw the sextant before being found. Maybe she wants to use the same route again for another escape?

<crazy theory>Also the questionable government man is Saiga!</crazy theory>

He mentioned WikiLeaks though, unless that's an translator's whim.

As for Hongo switching morality, I admit that it's possible.  He's had a lot of character development, but he simply believes that martial arts is used for killing.  I could see him being a killer, and just not involved with Yami's goals.  I could also seeing him come to a moral evolution that switches him fundamentally.  There's foundation for that, with how he handled Miu, (I kind of hoped Miu would have killed him there, to start her descent - and the same thing with Rimi, but she's lucked out twice.  Though, she has been tortured pretty well, and that amuses me.) and how Hongo trains his disciples.  

There's always been talk about one Kenichi's masters dying and being replaced with an excellent teacher who defected from Yami.  With how the author wrapped up the last arc with Kensei, it's not impossible - although improbably considering how Apachai is with us.

Why exactly is Shigure making her steel?  Couldn't she instead make sub-par metal and try to escape?  

Where can we find the raw?

Where can we find the raw?

I usually find the raws here: http://mangahead.com...isciple-Kenichi

Although, they haven't updated since 549, so I dunno what's going on.

I am soooo bored with this arc..

I am soooo bored with this arc..

Really? I am actualyl enjoying it myself. What do you want from this arc or any arc? (Besides more Rimi, of course)

I can see how this arc feels boring.

but it's still a little enjoyable

As a person who agrees with Rimi i just find it isn't really going anywhere right now. Shigure is repetitively doing the same thing, the other masters haven't figured much out either. It just feels like the entire thing is on loop right now. i think it has potential but right now its boring.

Yeah, this time could be used for disciples to develop! I already thought of a few new moves for Siegfried and possibly a new fighting style for him. Or a sub-style.

And I think that Hermit should add a new form in his arsenal of Chinese Kempo.

Agreed with the idea that the disciples should be given screen time. We only have 3 active RZ masters right now, and they can't be everywhere all at once. So a situation will come where ground coverage is more important than power.

Split the disciples into 3 groups, and pack them together with the masters, now you have 3 search parties instead of 1. It's not like Yami would attack an empty RZ dojo anyway.

Also I refuse to believe that the disciples are still THAT weak compared to fodder masters. The last mini-arc had Rimi and Miu more or less flying from rooftop to rooftop and Kenichi tanking dozens of hits that launch him 5-10m away... Together two determined disciples could touch an elite master. I doubt the bantou master back in the Kanou arc (knocked out and had his bantou broken with one punch from a dying Apachai)  can touch Ogata if he tries.

Maybe. Yami may try to burn down the dojo because they know about their lack of funds, but the ideas would be great if Syun properly writes it, not that I'm doubting him, but I wonder who would be packed with whom?

And aren't the disciples nearing or at expert level?

nah, Yami would make a huge mistake if they destroy the RZ dojo. Maybe the armed division is stupid enough to do so. In fact, I hope they do, it will make for good story.

But the only result of such an action is that the 3 (4 with Shigure) relatively more "idle" masters, will revert back to their wild selves... constantly. 

Cue repeated destruction of Yami bases. RZ masters one on one are on par with or slightly superior to their OSNF counterpart, while not showing their vicious sides... Now imagine if they all do. And come in packs...